Senate Democrats Outraise Republicans in March

Senate Democrats’ campaign arm outraised its Republican counterpart by $1.8 million last month, pulling in $8.1 million compared with Republicans’ $6.3 million and ending the month with more than $22 million in cash on hand.

Both campaign committees had their best haul of the cycle last month, but the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has raised over $20 million more than Republicans since January 2013.

Senate Democrats also have about $6 million more in the bank than Republicans. Neither committee has any debt.

This marks a trend for Democrats, who have consistently outraised Republicans each month. The DSCC outraised the National Republican Senatorial Committee by about $16 million in 2013. A Wall Street Journal analysis in January of Senate candidates’ individual fundraising efforts showed vulnerable Democrats had amassed sizable war chests, but that several GOP rivals had begun to close the gap by outraising Democrats in the final stretch of 2013.

Republicans are targeting Senate Democrats in several states that President Barack Obama lost in 2012 in their quest to take back the Senate majority this November. NRSC Vice Chairman Rob Portman said these latest numbers put them in good shape to do so.

“Another record month shows that we are building momentum and that Republicans across the country are highly energized,” he said in a statement. “Republicans are one step closer to bringing back the Senate this fall, but there is still work to be done.”

DSCC Executive Director Guy Cecil emphasized the contrast between the committees’ fundraising strategies in a statement Wednesday, offering harsh words for Charles and David Koch, two conservative billionaires who Democrats have targeted in recent months.

“Republican Senate candidates up and down the map have chosen to advocate for the Koch agenda that’s good for billionaire special interests but bad for middle class families across the country,” Mr. Cecil said. “As a reward, the Koch Brothers are pouring unprecedented millions into false attack ads aimed at boosting these Republicans, but Democrats have a strong grassroots network and thousands of generous donors across the country helping us raise the resources we need to fight back.”

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